THE FALCON. 11 I 



But soft — some warbler's echoing lay 

 On Zephyr's waves seems borne away; — 

 And now, o'er woodland, grove, and dell, 

 Still louder the melodious swell ! 



on some of oiir rocky shores, and builds commonly in the most 

 inaccessible cliffs; it was formerly much used in falconry, and, 

 being a bold and powerful bird, was in great esteem ; it was, 

 however, chiefly used in the taking of Ducks, and other water- 

 fowl, — whence one of its names. 



In concluding this long note on an important genus of birds 

 it may just be added, that by the 9th of Hen. VII, " taking the 

 eggs of any Fawcons, Goshawks, Laners, or Swannes, out ot 

 the neste," rendered the offender liable " to be imprisoned for a 

 year and a day, and a fine at the king's will:" and that the Duke 

 of St. Alban's is still hereditary grand Falconer of England : 

 but the office is not exercised. There are also several statute* 

 relating to hawks and their eggs, which it may be sufficient 

 merely to mention : they are, it is presumed, all become a 

 dead letter. 



It may also be observed that, in former times, and in many 

 countries, the custom of carrying a falcon about was esteemed 

 a mark of a man of rank : many persons of distinction were 

 painted with a hawk on the hand. Aristotle, Pliny, and many 

 other ancient writers, speak of the method of catching birds by 

 means of hawks ; but, it is said, that falconry was practised 

 with far more spirit and universality among the ancient Britons 

 than in any other nation; that it commenced as early as the 

 fifth century, and was cultivated as late as the fifteenth, when 

 the introduction of the use of gunpowder most probably super- 

 seded the use of birds, as means of obtaining game. 



